Programme overview

Review of the Cape Town vision and roadmap

Participants revisited the vision developed in a participatory manner during the Cape Town workshop and the reflections towards this vision elaborated in regional workshops for the COMIFAC as well as West and North Africa. This provided an opportunity to exchange on the long term perspective and help bring "newcomers" to the initiative on board. A roadmap for activities by the initiative as well as others was elaborated for 2008. 

Towards best practices for ABS

Participants were invited to present bioprospecting experiences as examples: to come to practical solutions for regulating and implementing ABS with a view to ensure benefit-sharing and facilitate access. Hands-on cases and feedback based on the experiences of the participants highlighted best practices and areas for further improvement. Highlighting experiences and approaches of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) special focus was set on the funding potential through ABS for protected areas.

Discussing elements for the International Regime

The agenda of WGABS-6 was introduced and recommendations for African positions were formulated building on a discussion of the outcomes of WGABS-5, in particular the new documents as the Co-chairs reflections and compilation. Discussing these papers in light of the African contributions to the previous meeting helped to underline the immense value of a well prepared common position as a regional group.